Traffic signal



Jan. 7, 1941- 1. M. WELLS EI'AL TRAFFI C S I GNAL Filed March 6, 1939 ,Vn 06/) fans Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 6,

12 Claims.

This invention, a trafiic signal, is designed to dispel the uncertainties in interpretations of presently used types of traffic signals.

Trafiic signals of the types now being used generally introduce an orange or yellow signal between the red and green signals, and when used between the change from Stop to Go, the intent of the law is that the vehicle shall not be started until the Go signal is displayed;

7 nevertheless there are many motorists who start their vehicle as soon as the caution signal is displayed, and this is a condition which is responsible for many accidents, particularly in view of the fact that cross or lateral traflic has usually no means of knowing just when the change in signals is to take place, and thus, the approaching motorist sometimes practically reaches the deadline when. the change to caution occurs which makes it too late for him to stop and he proceeds across the intersection, while, at the same time the previously mentioned motorist starts when the signal changes to caution. The result is often an intersection crash.

It is believed that the motorist should have ample and definite warning as to when the signal will change from Go to Stop, and that no such warning should be given for the obverse signal change, under which conditions there would be no plausible excuse for intersection crashes. It would also increase the confidence and assuredness of the motoring public, and effect a saving on tires, brakes, fuel and patience.

The principal object of the invention therefore, is to provide a traffic signal which keeps the Go signal-approaching motorist informed amply and continuously for some time in advance as to when the change of signals will take place.

A second object is to provide a signaling de- 'vice of the type outlined in which no indication is given as to when the signal will change from Stop to Go, so as to avoid confusion and the resulting intersection crashes.

A third object is to provide a signal as outlined in which the signal includes standard traffic lamps comprising lamp housing, reflector, bull's-eye lens and visor, and in which the lamps are enclosed in a transparent housing or front cover for protection against weather, dust and grime.

A fourth object is to provide a signal as outlined in which the respective signaling indications may be varied as to time-elapse periods, one relative to the other.

A fifth object is to provide a signal of the type 1939, Serial No. 260,104

outlined which is adjustable for variations in time-elapse periods by means of a single adjustable element.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing the semaphore arm and its operative connection to the signaling mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the invention with the rear cover removed to disclose the operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the type of slit which is formed in the lamp housing of the traveling lamp, to form the travel-indicating light beams.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a modified form of operating mechanism, and which is of simpler construction than that illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

The invention includes a conventional type of lamp housing l0 having the conventional type visor ll, reflector l2, bulls-eye lens l3 and lamp M, but modified in the traveling lamp by forming a narrow slit [5 through each of the opposits walls of the reflector and housing for passing a, narrow beam of light rays l6 which will strike only the upper and lower walls of the outside casing and possibly the upper and lower portions of the transparent front wall of the cover ll but will not reach the side walls of such casing. An observer when facing the front cover ll will merely see two vertical beams of light from the slots [5, which beams will vary in length but will appear to be satisfactory. The cover I"! forms a weatherproof seal for the lamps and mechanism in the signal housing I8.

The Stop or red signal lamp S is fixed in position while the Go or green signal lamp G alternately moves to and fro relative to the red lamp, and the travel of the lamp G is adjustably controlled.

As illustrated in Fig. i, the housing 18 has an intermediately positioned wall I9 which has a slot 28 formed to act as a guide and clear the supporting arm 2| of the lamp G. Although not shown, a keyway or other guiding means may be substituted, or a rod may be used parallel to the transporting means. The only purpose of this guide is to maintain the beam direction of the lamp.

The supporting arm 2| is threaded and associated with the screw 22 which is mounted in suitable bearings 23 and driven by a synchronous motor 24 through suitable speed reduction means such as a worm-gear drive 25 and bevel or mitre gears; the arrangement shown being for unequal timing of the stop and go signals and using two pairs of bevel gears having different ratios, the pair 23 indicating unit ratio and the pair 21 indicating about a 2:1 ratio, although the ratios may be varied to suit the particular conditions.

The drive gears are both fixed on the shaft 28 while the driven gears are both free to rotate on the lower unthreaded end of the screw 22, and a clutch of any well-known type is slidable and keyed against rotation on this unthreaded end and interposed between the driven gears.

This clutch is engageable selectively with the respective driven gears, whereby, when engaged with one gear the lamp G is carried in one direction, and when engaged with the other gear the lamp G is carried in the other direction.

If the time periods for both signals are to be identical, then one pair of gears is eliminated and a second matching driven gear is substituted for the driven gear eliminated.

This signal is well adapted to the inclusion of a semaphore arm 29 in the event the same should be desired as an incorporated element in the signaling system, and the usual gong or hell 3!) is suitably operated coincident with each signal change.

The control of the clutch and lamps is carried out as follows:

With the motor 24 operating continuously and the lamp G lighted and the clutch 29' engaging say the upper driven gear, as indicated at 26, the screw 22 is rotated, elevating the lamp G, and as the lamp reaches the position G (Fig. 2) the support 2! engages bell-crank lever 3i raising the lever which is pivoted at 32, and releasing the microswitch 23 which completes circuit through line wire 34, wire 35, switch 33, Wire 36, solenoid 3'1, wire 38 to line wire 39; and coincidently completes circuit through wires 40 and 4! to lamp S, and energizing the solenoid 31 which lifts rod 43 which through clutch lever 44 shifts the clutch to de-clutch gear 26 and clutch gear 2?, thus reversing the direction of rotation of the screw and lowering the lamp. This same operation has lifted lever 45 which is pivoted at 46 and thus releases the Micro-switch 41 to break circuit through solenoid 48 and lamp G, extinguishing this lamp at the same time that lamp S is lighted.

If the semaphore arm is to be used, it is suitably counterbalanced as indicated at 49 and operated through a connection 56 to the rod 43, the arm being moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 when the rod 43 is raised through energization of solenoid 37, and being moved to its other or lowered position when the solenoid 48 is energized.

The levers El and 45 are connected together by means of a rod 5! and maintained in either of their two positions by means of the spring 52 which has its respective ends connected to the lever and housing on an axis intermediate the throw of the levers.

As the lamp G is lowered, it finally contacts the arm 53 which is adjustable vertically on the rod 5| and further depression of the lamp depresses this arm carrying with it the levers 3| and 45 which depresses the two switches, completing circuit through line wire 34, wire 54, switch 4?, wires 55, 58 and 51 to lamp G, thence through wire 58 to line wire 39, lighting the lamp G, and coincidently completing circuit through wire '59 to solenoid 48 and wire 60 to line 39, energizing the solenoid which draws rod 43 down and which through lever 44 reverses the clutch and consequently the direction of travel of the lamp.

Simultaneously with this operation circuit is broken through switch 33 to lamp S and to solenoid 31, the lamp in the meantime starting its return trip. During this return trip, a narrow light beam I6 is projected from the lamp l4 G as indicated and travels with the lamp, thus clearly indicating the position of the lamp G relative to the lamp S and to the other end of the housing. These beams do not appear when the "Go lamp G is extinguished, thus eliminating, particularly in view of the fact that the limit or terminal of down travel is an unknown quantity so far as the observer is concerned (this down travel being dependent for its extent on the adjusted position of the finger 53), any indication of the time of change from Stop to G0, while the uptravel provides a direct indication through its relative speed of travel and nearness to the dead Stop lamp. The elapsetime indication therefore applies only for the change from Go to Stop.

The signals for all four corners of an intersection can be operated from one of these signals as a master, under which conditions the switches in the other signals can be eliminated thus:

Consider two signals operating in sequence for control of cross-traffic. The lamp S and solenoid 37 in the other signal are connected to wires 6! and 34, and considering the illustration Fig. 4 for parts in the other signal, the circuit when the lamp G is at its lower terminal, will be completed through line wire 34 to lamp S and solenoid 31, in parallel, thence wire iii to switch 41 in the master signal shown, thus reversing the clutch in the other signal, lighting the stop lamp and extinguishing the go lamp. When the other terminal is reached by the lamp G the circuit in the other signal is completed through line wire 39, wire 62 and master switch 33. Thus the signals will be kept in step and sequence. It would be necessary to have all lamps in proper sequence and step before starting the signals. Instead of reversing gears, reversible motors could be readily substituted, although not shown.

The modification Fig. 7 illustrates a diiferent and more simple method of operation. In this arrangement the lamp support 63 slides on a vertical rod 64 and has a shoe 65 on which two switches 66 and 61 are mounted, and shown as Micro-switches in inverted position, and the shoe has pivotally mounted in each of its ends a lever 68, 69 which respectively are cooperatively related to the respective switches, normally releasing these switches.

Adjustably mounted on the rod 64 for both, vertical and rotary adjustment is a stop arm which is secured in adjusted position by means of a set screw H and effectively adjustable to three angular positions and to any desired vertical position.

A sprocket or pulley "I2 is mounted at the upper end of the signal housing, and another, 13, is mounted at the lower end, and a chain or belt M provided with one roller 15 operates over these sprockets or pulleys which are driven continuously in one direction.

As the chain travels up it raises the lamp while keeping switch 6'! closed (switch 66 being open), and this switch completes circuit to the lamp G during the up-travel. When the upper terminal of travel of the lamp is reached, the roller 15 rides out from under lever 68, allowing switch 6'! to open and break circuit to lamp G. Slightly further travel of the roller causes it to engage lever 69 to close switch 66 to lamp S.

With the stop arm in the position shown, when the lamp reaches this arm, the arm cooperates with the lever 69 and keeps this circuit controlled by lever 69 closed while the roller continues on down and about the lower pulley and back up to where it again engages the shoe and its lever 68, closing circuit through switch 61 to lamp G, and as it lifts the shoe off the stop arm, it breaks circuit to the lamp S.

Now, if arm 7!] is adjusted to a higher position, the variation in the relative elapse-time periods will be increased. and if the arm is turned directly forward or at right angles to that shown and adjusted to its lowest position, the elapsetime periods for both signals will be identical, the lamp will travel the full distance and the roller will control the switches at the bottom in the same manner as it does at the top. It will be noted that when the arm is turned directly forward or at to the position shown, that this arm cannot cooperate with the switch control levers E8 and 69, and therefore the change of signal indications is entirely dependent upon the roller 15.

If the arm is moved to a position from that shown, the lamp S will be extinguished when the shoe meets the stop arm and the roller leaves the lever 69, and, coincidently, the arm will complete circuit to the lamp G which, while illuminated, will remain stationary until the roller again reaches the shoe when it will start the uptravel of the lamp and keep the circuit closed. Thus the longer portion of the cycle will be devoted to the Stop signal indication.

With this arrangement, the operation of the motor is continuous and the signals are varied as desired by angular and vertical adjustment of but a single means, that of the stop arm H, and the time-to-elapse indication is equal to the shorter elapse time of the two signal indications while the signal indications are always continuous for their respective periods.

Although Microswitches which are commercially available under that trade name, have been defined in connection with the switching mechanism, it will be understood that any suitable type of switch, such as mercury or knife switches, may be employed, and though not shown, it is fully realized that fluid means, electro--magnets or solenoids and other mediums may readily be employed to carry out the operations described.

We claim:

1. A traffic signal, in combination; a signal housing; stop and go signals consisting of a stationary signal lamp and a to-and-fro moving signal lamp and guiding means and driving means moving said moving signal lamp sequentially to and away from said stationary lamp: means coincidently completing circuit to said stationary lamp and breaking circuit to said traveling lamp when said traveling lamp closely approaches said stationary lamp, and completing circuit to said traveling lamp and breaking circuit to said stationary lamp following the limit of away-travel of said traveling lamp; and means manually adjustable and cooperatively related to said traveling lamp for limiting the away travel of said traveling lamp for adjusting the elapse-time ratio of the respective signaling periods for stop and go.

2. A traflic signal, in combination; a signal housing; a stationary signal lamp and a to-andfro moving signal lamp and guiding means and driving means moving said moving signal lamp sequentially to and away from said stationarylamp; means coincidently completing circuit to said stationary lamp and breaking circuit to said traveling lamp when said traveling lamp closely approaches said stationary lamp, and completing circuit to said traveling lamp and breaking circuit to said stationary lamp following the limit of away travel of said traveling lamp, said traveling lamp having elongated slits formed in the walls thereof to pass light rays from the housing for the lamp to the signal housing to make visible the speed of travel and the relative position with respect to the stationary lamp and the opposite ends of the signal housing.

3. A signaling device comprising; a signal housing having a transparent cover having top and bottom walls and a stop-signal lamp fixedly located at one end of said cover and a traveling go-signal lamp alternately transported toward and away from said stop-signal lamp; transporting means and driving means therefor continuously transporting said go-signal lamp sequentially in its opposite directions of travel; and switch means and circuits therefor controlled through said transporting means completing circuit to said stop-signal lamp and breaking circult to said moving lamp during the away-transportation of said travel lamp, and breaking circuit to said stop-signal lamp and completing circuit to said travel lamp during the toward-transportation of said travel lamp; and stop means manually adjustable and cooperatively related to said traveling lamp and to said switch means for limiting the distance traveled by said traveling lamp and for assigning the intervening portion of a cycle of signaling to either lamp upon cooperation therewith.

4. A. signaling device comprising; a signal housing having a transparent front and a stopsignal lamp fixedly located at one end and a traveling go-signal lamp alternately transported toward and away from said stop-signal lamp, transporting means and driving means therefor continuously transporting said go-signal lamp sequentially in its opposite directions of travel; and switch means and circuits therefor controlled through said transporting means completing circuit to said stop-signal lamp and breaking circuit to said traveling lamp during the away transportation of said traveling lamp, and breaking circuit to said stop-signal lamp and completing circuit to said traveling lamp during the toward-transportation of said traveling lamp; and means associated with said traveling lamp directing light beams in opposite directions against the inside of said transparent front during toward-transportation to indicate the instant relative position of said traveling lamp with respect to its final terminal of signaling period and making visually apparent the relative speed of movement of the travelling lamp.

5. A signaling device comprising; a signal housing having a transparent front and a stopsignal lamp fixedly located at one end and a traveling go-signal lamp alternately transported toward and away from said stop-signal lamp, transporting means and driving means therefor continuously transporting said go-signal lamp sequentially in its opposite directions of travel; and switch means and circuits therefor controlled through said transporting means completing circuit to said stop-signal lamp and breaking circuit to said traveling lamp during the away transportation of said traveling lamp, and breaking circuit to said stop-Signal lamp and completing circuit to said traveling lamp during the toward-transportation of said traveling lamp; means manually adjustable along the path of said traveling and to three angular positions and cooperatively related to said go-signal lamp and to said transporting means and controlling the time-elapse periods of the respective signals, and in one of which positions the stop and go periods are equal; in another position the stop period is the greater; and in the third position of which the go period exceeds that of the stop period.

6. A signaling device comprising; a signal housing having a transparent front and a stopsignal lamp fixedly located at one end and a traveling go-signal lamp alternately transported toward and away from said stop-signal lamp, transporting means and driving means therefor continuously transporting said go-signal lamp sequentially in its opposite directions of travel; and switch means and circuits therefor controlled through said transporting means completing circuit to said stop-signal lamp and breaking circuit to said traveling lamp during the away transportation of said traveling lamp, and breaking circuit to said stop-signal lamp and completing circuit to said traveling lamp during the toward-transportation of said traveling lamp in which said transporting means includes guiding means and a shoe slidable on said guiding means and supportably related to said traveling lamp, and in which said switch means includes two switches mounted on said shoe; a driven belt and a roller rotatably mounted on the belt for cooperation with said shoe for support of the traveling lamp during raising and lowering thereof, said roller cooperating sequentially with the respective switches during the respective raising and lowering movements of the shoe to change the signal indications, and driving means for driving said belt continually in one direction.

'7. A signaling device comprising; a signal housing having a transparent front and a stopsignal lamp fixedly located at one end and a traveling go-signal lamp alternately transported toward and away from said stop-signal lamp, transporting means and driving means therefor continuously transporting said go-signal lamp sequentially in its opposite directions of travel; and switch means and circuits therefor controlled through said transporting means completing circuit to said stop-signal lamp and breaking circuit to said traveling lamp during the away transportation of said traveling lamp, and breaking circuit to said stop-signal lamp and completing circuit to said traveling lamp during the toward-transportation of said traveling lamp; means manually adjustable and cooperatively related to said go-signal lamp and to said transporting means and controlling the time-elapse periods of the respective signals for equal and unequal signaling periods; said transporting means comprising guiding means and raising and lowering means; said switch means including a plurality of switches; a shoe for said gosignal lamp with said switches mounted on said shoe; said raising and lowering means cooperating with said shoe for raising and lowering the lamp and also cooperating sequentially with said switches for control and change of signal indications.

8. A signaling device comprising; a signal housing having a transparent front and a stopsignal lamp fixedly located at one end and a traveling go-signal lamp alternately transported toward and away from said stop-signal lamp; transporting means and driving means therefor continuously transporting said go-signal lamp sequentially in its opposite directions of travel; and switch means and circuits therefor controlled through said transporting means completing circuit to said stop-signal lamp and breaking circuit to said traveling lamp during the away transportation of said traveling lamp, and breaking circuit to said stop-signal lamp and completing circuit to said traveling lamp during the toward-transportation of said traveling lamp, in which said switch means includes a plurality of switches and in which said transporting means includes guiding means and a shoe for said gosignal lamp, with said switches mounted on said shoe; said transporting means having a roller for cooperation with said shoe for support during raising and lowering transportation and cooperating at one terminal and adapted for cooperation at the other terminal of travel, successively with the two switches to break circuit to one lamp and complete circuit to the other lamp; means manually adjustable and cooperatively related to said go-signal lamp and to said transporting means and controlling the time-elapse periods of the respective signals for equal and unequal periods; and comprising an arm adjustable longitudinally and rotatably relative to said guiding means and to the path of said roller for cooperation with one switch when in one position to support the lamp and maintain the circuits while the roller moves through an intermediate portion of its travel; allowing complete control of said switches by said roller at both terminals of travel when the arm is in another position; and, in its third position changing the condition of the circuits immediately upon support of the lamp by said arm with the changed circuit conditions continuing throughout the balance of a cycle of two opposite movements of the lamp.

9. A traffic signal comprising; a housing having a transparent front cover; a pair of signal lamps and respectively one lamp fixedly mounted at one end of the housing and the other lamp mounted for travel toward and away from said one lamp and both lamps fully enclosed within said housing and visible through said cover; guiding means for said other lamp; a belt operating over pulleys in said housing for transporting said other lamp, and a roller on said belt; a shoe on said lamp and cooperatively related to said roller rotatably mounted, and a normally 10. A traflic signal comprising; a housing having a transparent front cover; a pair of signal lamps respectively one lamp fixedly mounted at one end of the housing and the other lamp mounted for travel toward and away from said one lamp with both lamps fully enclosed within said housing and visible through said cover; guiding means for said other lamp; transporting means for said other lamp and a roller transported by said transporting means; a shoe on said lamp and cooperatively related to said roller, and a normally open-circuit switch mounted on each end of said shoe and respectively associated with the respective lamps; and means cooperatively related to said roller and associated with each switch for closing the respective switches upon cooperation with said roller to complete circuit to its associated lamp and to change the circuits between the lamps as the roller reaches reversal positions in its path of travel; a stop arm cooperatively related to said shoe and slidable and rotatable and adjustably associated with said guiding means and means for securing said arm in adjusted position at will for varying the elapse-time ratios of the signals, being adjustable slidably for any desired elapse-time ratio, and being adjustable rotatably to three radial positions, in one of which the signal indications are changed upon cooperation of the shoe with the arm; in another of which the change of signals is controlled exclusively by the roller; and in the third of which the change of signals occurs when the roller in its return travel again engages the shoe.

11. A structure as defined in claim 1, in which said means manually adjustable is coincidently adjustable to two positions other than that for limiting the away-travel of said traveling lamp, for assigning the longer signaling period to either lamp for sequential operation with another signal operating with unequal signaling periods for control of cross-trafiic as related to said trafiic signal.

12. A structure as defined in claim 1, in which said traveling lamp is provided with means for directing narrow beams of light vertically against the upper and lower ends of the signal housing which beams vary in length while appearing to remain stationary to an observer while the traveling lamp is moved from one end of said housing toward the other end, for indicating the instant position of the traveling lamp relative to that of the stationary lamp.

IRA M. WELLS. WARD WELLS. 

